Detroit Water Department employees go on strike

DETROIT (AP) -- Detroit officials have asked a judge to block a strike by Water and Sewer Department workers who on Sunday walked off their jobs from a system that serves about 4 million people across southeastern Michigan.

Employees of Detroit's water and sewer system went on strike Sunday morning to protest plans to eliminate most of their jobs through privatization or other measures.

The union for 950 employees of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department approved the strike last week. Michigan law prohibits public employee strikes.

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"We hope a hearing will take place (Monday) to avoid any further illegal work stoppage," water department spokeswoman Mary Alfonso said in a statement Sunday. She said the strike "appears to be an isolated event" and said workers who walked off the job "will be subject to suspension that could ultimately lead to their termination."

American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees Local 207 said it expected an effort to force its members back to work.

"Workers are very happy to be fighting for a change," said Michael Muholland, secretary-treasurer of American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees Local 207.

Detroit's water system serves about 4 million people in communities across southeastern Michigan. Management employees were filling in for the strikers, and the water and sewer system was reported to be operating safely Sunday.

Proposed job cuts in the Detroit water system follow an April agreement between Mayor Dave Bing and Gov. Rick Snyder to head off a state takeover of the city's finances because of persistent budget deficits.

After the agreement, Bing said a majority of the water department's about 2,000 employees could lose their jobs. A plan unveiled by the Bing administration Aug. 8 would cut the number of department employees to about 375 over five years. About 360 outside employees would work for the department.

Local 207 president John Riehl said the union is seeking broader public support for what he said is a fight to preserve the living standard of working-class and middle-class families.

"We are Detroit," he said in a statement. "This strike gives the people of Detroit a much needed and long awaited opportunity to change the balance of power in our favor."

Detroit municipal employee unions struck in 1971, 1975, 1978 and 1986, halting everything from bus service to trash collection. So far this year, other unions have not struck over wage and benefit cuts and work rule changes imposed in response to the financial crisis.

In Chicago, a union for 25,000 teachers struck for more than a week in September, cancelling class for 350,000 schoolchildren. That walkout was mainly over an extended work day and revised teacher evaluation standards.